Replies to This Discussion

This is really sad! I had a deep disagreement with Warren's politics and religious views, and with the fact that he was among those involved in the Uganda evangelical movement as the Kill the Gays ideology started formulating its policy and agenda. He later distanced himself from the Kill the Gays movement. I still feel sorry for Warren.

Apparently the young man suffered from clinical depression all his life, and none of the medical or psychiatric treatments the family tried helped for very long.

I've been there, done that myself (depression can be hereditary... on both sides of my family), I have often thought seriously about "leaving the building," but at least I never had to suffer through being prayed over.

Sk8eycat, I'm so glad you didn't check out early. Perhaps a part of me is being selfish, but I really enjoy your company on this site. I'm glad you're here and that you have a medication that works for you.

Thank you. I love a lot of people I've met here, and on other web sites, in the past 12 years.

I still sometimes think about leaving, I feel so useless. But at the same time I can't forget how angry (and hurt) I was last summer when Judith Hayes "ate" a shotgun. Besides the fact that she was a personal friend, she was a source of comfort to a lot of newbies who were just beginning to realize that faith in an outrageous myth was no longer possible for them.

I can't imagine what it was like growing up with a money-hungry, celebrity suck-up, self-righteous SOB like Rick Warren for a father. My own dad went through 10 years of quiet alcoholism, and that was bad enough.

Personally, I can't stand the bloated, arrogant, self-serving, homophobic bigot. Having said that, I wouldn't wish the suicide of a loved one on my worst enemy. Maybe he'll learn something from this tragedy. One can only hope.

"The one thing his father can do, in his sons memory, is change his ridiculous ideas about a mythical heaven and hell. Then again, Rick might think that his god is testing his love and devotion."

A very true statement. Life-shattering events such as a suicide can often lead one to question their faith. However, it's my opinion that Rick Warren has too much invested to contemplate making a complete 180-degree change in his life and give up on his god delusion. He leads a multimillion dollar mega-church enterprise and is a best-selling author. He also has thousands, if not tens-of-thousands, of people publicly supporting him and being his "pillar" of religious encouragement through a difficult time. I'm saddened and do empathize with him that he has to endure the pain and loss of his son, but at the same time I personally view him as a slimy snake-oil salesman. That aspect of his life I have no sympathy for. Whether he questions his faith or not, he will keep his business running full-speed ahead.

Warren's best seller claims that his imaginary friend has placed each individual on this planet for a specific purpose. If he truly believes that, then his son's "purpose" must have been to commit suicide. Just as the "purpose" of the 15,000 children who starve to death EVERY EFFING DAY before they reach their 5th birthday is just that...to die. Sick. Sick. Sick.

The amount of time "Jesus" is supposed to have spent on the cross (IF such an event ever happened at all) is trivial when compared to that kind of constant suffering.

(Yeah, I know, suffering is not supposed to be comparative, but let's get real. If one believes in the doctrine of the Trinity, Jesus was God, and knew what was going to happen, caused it to happen, and knew that he wasn't really going to stay dead, anyway. BFD)

I think that religion isn't "snake oil," it's more like what comes out of the other end of the snake after a good meal. Or the fluid that comes out of an asp's fangs.

Joseph, I have a particular problem when people respond to a disaster/tragedy by saying that their imaginary friend is "testing their faith." Their god is supposed to know everything about everybody from the beginning of time, so why would she/he/it (say that 3 times real fast) need to "test" anything or anybody?

One of the things that started me on my path away from religion was belonging to Job's Daughters when I was a teenager. Whenever a new member was initiated into a Bethel, they (and everyone else in attendance) had to listen to a lengthy recitation of the story of Job. The god of that story began to remind me of a nasty little boy in our neighborhood who liked to take potshots at birds, squirrels, and other people's pets with his BB gun. I was glad when they moved "to a better neighborhood."

And...according to some reviewers who have actually eaten there, the food isn't all that great.

It's a pity that Camp Quest can't hire a fundraising outfit from here in the Los Angeles area. LegendaryBingo has been highly successful for 15 years, and the comedy drag show that is part of the deal is HILARIOUS! (But not for kids.)